ERO New York City arrests multiple criminal noncitizens during 3-day operation on Long Island

NEW YORK — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City apprehended 10 unlawfully present noncitizens convicted of various felony offenses, including rape and homicide, between May 1 and May 4.

The enforcement operation addressed unlawfully present criminal noncitizens. Cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution may be presented to the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office. These individuals will go through removal proceedings before an immigration judge or, for those under a final order of removal, arrangements will be made to remove them from the United States.

“This targeted enforcement operation is an example of ERO New York City’s commitment to locate, arrest and ultimately remove from the United States criminal noncitizens that pose a threat to public safety,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “Because of the dedication and professionalism of our officers, there are 10 fewer criminals in our Long Island communities.”

Those arrested include:

• A 38-year-old citizen of El Salvador in Central Islip, New York, convicted in March 2022 by the Suffolk County Court of rape in the first degree where the victim is under 13 years of age and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17.
• A 23-year-old citizen of El Salvador and MS-13 member in St. James, New York, convicted in March 2023 by the Suffolk County Court of assault in the third degree: with intent to cause physical injury. The El Salvador National Police identified the individual as a member of MS-13 and issued an arrest warrant on Dec. 3, 2019, for attempted aggravated homicide.
• A 37-year-old citizen of El Salvador in Uniondale, New York, convicted in October 2004 by the Nassau County 1st District Court of attempted robbery in the second degree: aided by another; and by the Suffolk County 1st District Court in January 2005 of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. The noncitizen appeared before the U.S. Magistrate Court in Central Islip, New York, pursuant to an indictment charging him with violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326(b)(2), illegal reentry into the United States after removal as an aggravated felon. He was removed from the United States on two previous occasions.
• A 47-year-old citizen of Guatemala in East Quogue, New York, convicted in February 2023 by the Suffolk County Court of grand larceny as a hate crime, scheme to defraud, money laundering, and 144 counts of possession of a forged instrument. On Jan. 6, 2023, an immigration judge in New York ordered the noncitizen removed from the United States.
• A 29-year-old citizen of El Salvador in Huntington, New York, convicted in March 2023 by the Suffolk County 1st District Court of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 and acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17. The noncitizen appeared before the U.S. Magistrate Court in Central Islip, New York, pursuant to an indictment charging him with violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326(b)(1), reentry of removed aliens. The individual has been removed from the United States on three prior occasions.
• A 43-year-old citizen of El Salvador in Freeport, New York, convicted on April 10, 2023, by the Suffolk County Court of attempted conspiracy in the fourth degree and attempted conspiracy in the fourth degree: conspire to perform a Class B or C felony.

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ERO officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.

In fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions. These included 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.

As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) three operational directorates, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

Learn more about ERO New York City’s mission to preserve public safety on Twitter @ERONewYork.